Collapsible fire-shield.



J. A.'DE NNIS. GOLLAPSIBLE FIRE SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.8, 1909.'

Patented Sept.'28, 1909.

INVENTOH Jameswffieimw, 4.8766

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATEfi PATENT @FlfilEE.

JAMES A. DENNIS, OF HENDERSON, KENTUCKY.

COLLAPSIBLE FIRE-SHIELD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Henderson, in the county of Henderson and State of Kentucky,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Fire-Shields, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a collapsible fire shield designed for useparticularly where it is desirable to carry on the fire-fighting operations in close proximity to the flames, as for instance inapproaching a door or window from which flames are issuing.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a shield,impervious to fire and heat, which shall be adapted to afford effectiveprotection to firemen while operating and at the same time permitunobstructed vision of the fire and unrestricted use of a hose fordirecting a stream of water or chemicals where such will be mosteffective.

Another object is to provide a shield which shall be adapted foreflicient use in scaling in instances where the fire is located in theupper part of a building and entrance from a lower fioor is undesirable.

Another object is to provide a shield of few parts of simpleconstruction which can be quickly and easily adjusted to stableoperative position and as readily folded in compact form such as toadapt it to be conveniently carried upon the ladder wagon or truck ofthe fire company in such situation as not to interfere with any of theapparatus usually carried by such vehicles, and yet adapted for readyaccess and disengagement from said wagon for use when described.

Another object is to provide means where by a number of the shields, byslight manipulation, can be quickly detachably connected and spread orhung upon unprotected property situated in dangerous proximity to afire.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will now bedescribed in the following specification, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, and then more specifically pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of my fire shield inoperativeposition, looking from the rear. Fig. 9, is an enlarged vertical sectiontaken on line 2-2 and partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation ofa slight modification.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1909.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909. Serial No. 481,907.

is shown the preferred embodiment of the details of my invention, andwherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout theseveral views, 1 denotes the front 'all of the shield proper, formed ofcourse of fire-proof material, such as asbestos provided on the innerside with a coating of water-proof material and embracing duplicatesidewalls 2 constructed integral with wall 1 and designed to bepositioned, when in operative situation, at an appropriate angle to saidwall as shown in Fig. l, for a purpose to be later explained, or, shouldoccasion demand, to extend in the same plane as said wall when theshield is being used for other than its primary function. A series ofmetal bound apertures 2 are provided in wall 1 near the top edge thereofand are designed, where a number of the shields can be used as coveringto protect property in dangerous proximity to a fire, to furnish a meanswhereby said shields can be quickly and securely attached together.Connecting members 3, preferably in the form of snaphooks, as shown, arepositioned on the inner face near the upper edge of front wall 1, beingsecurely attached to or formed integral with attaching plates of metalpassing over the edge and riveted through the material of the shield,similar members 4, designed for similar use being provided on side walls2 of the shield.

5 denotes a plurality of metal frames securely riveted at appropriateheights in the front wall 1 and adapted to support and retain in desiredrelative position plates of transparent material impervious to heat,such as mica or the like, and adapted to permit unobstructed vision ofthe firemen through the screen to ascertain where to direct the streamfrom the hose, when desired.

6 indicates a plurality of metal bound nozzle openings formed in thefront wall 1 of the shield and are adapted to permit insertion of thehose nozzle and permit free play of the latter therein that the firemenmay direct the stream of water or chemicals where most needed. Each ofsaid nozzleopenings is provided with a metal bound swinging curtain 7riveted at its upper edge through plate 8 to the outer face of wall 1and normally hanging in close proximity to said face in front of itsrespective nozzleopening andpreventing passage therethrough of flame andheat and adapted to be easily swung outward by the hose nozzle wheninserted through said opening for playing a stream upon the fire.

9 denotes a pair of supporting rods, preferably formed of metal or otherfire proof material, pivotally connected at approximately their centralpoint through the medium of pivot-bolt 10 and of such length as toextend when in operative position diagonally across the rear face ofwall 1 of the shield, as shown in Fig. 1, a stay chain 11, securelyattached to rods 9 in any desired manner, being designed to preventundesired spreading of said rods, being supplemented in this function byprongs 12 adapted for screw connection with said rods and designed tocontact with the ground and assist in retaining the shield inappropriate stable position. Ring members 13 adapted for free movementin all directions and for ready engagement with and disconnection frommembers 3 are attached to the upper ends of rods 9, ring connections 141being positioned closely contiguous to said ring members 13 and designedfor a purpose later set forth.

15 indicates a pair of brace rods formed of fire proof material andprovided on their upper ends with connecting hooks 16 designed forengagement with ring connections 14 of rods 9 in the adjustment of theshield to operative position, and at approximately their middle pointswith connecting members 17 adapted for ready engagement with members .Lof the side walls 2 and to hold said side walls in adjusted angularrelation to the front wall 1 when said brace rods are in correctinclined position, as shown in F ig.v 1, holding prongs 18, formed onthe lower ends of rods 15 being adapted to enter the ground and retainthe structure in desired stable situation.

In Fig. 3 is shown a slightly modified form. of shield designed for usein conjunctionwith scaling ladders and adapted: to be placed before awindow or door in the upper part of a burning building from which flamesare issuing in order to permit inspection. of the interior thereof andoperation of the hose while fighting-the fire, or to cut off afire-increasing draft. Said modification embraces a sheet of: asbestosor the like 19 provided, as in the preferred form, with inspectionaperture 20 and curtain 21 covering a nozzle-opening 21, and with metalbound openings 22, designed to receive connecting hooks 25 formed on theupper ends of supporting rods 23,.pivotally connected at 26, the lowerends of said rods being provided with holding prongs or with connectionssimilar to those on the upper ends, as desired.

In assembling the apparatus foruse ring members 13 are made to engage.members 3, rods 9 separated the extent of chain 11 and prongs 12 forcedinto the ground, thus extending the front wall 1 of the shield to fulloperative position. Connecting members 17 are then made to engagemembers 4 and rods 15 inclined rearwardly, and positioning side walls 2in correct angular relation to wall 1, when prongs 18 are forced intothe ground and hold the structure in stable adjusted situation, it beingunderstood that the engagement of members 1 1 and 16 is permanent. Indisconnection the frame from the shield proper, connections 13 and 17are disengagedv from their cooperating connect- I the apparatus can bequickly adjusted to position and readily disassembled andfolded incompact form for transportation.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1.. A shield for firemen formed of a single strip of flexible material.comprising a central wall, side walls adapted to be disposed at variousangles to the central wall, a foldable frame removably attached to theshield and adapted tosupport the latter in pendent position, said framebeing connected only tothe shield and to the ground.

2. A1 fire-shield comprising a strip of fireproof. material,pivotally-connected cross bars,.means carried by the shield to removablyengage one' end of each cross bar, a brace bar movablyconnected witheach cross bar, and means carried by each end of the Is)hield fordetachably engaging the brace ars.

3. A collapsible fire shield comprising a central wall,- side: wallsformed integral therewith. and disposed in angnlarrelat-ion theretoandmeans comprisingpivotally connected cross bars and brace bars looselyconnected thereto to maintain said walls in said relation.

at; A collapsible fire shield comprising a central wall, side wallsformed integral therewithand adapted to be disposed in angularrelatiomthereto, and means, comprising cross bars and brace bars looselyconnected thereto tomaintainsaid walls insaid relation, said cross barsand brace bars beingadapted for holding connection with the groundi 5. Afire shield comprising a foldable supporting frame and a single strip-offlexible material removably connected thereto in pendent relation, theends of said strip being adapted to be adjusted in various angularrelations to the central portion thereof.

6. A collapsible shield for firemen formed of a single strip of flexiblematerial comprising a central wall, side Walls adapted to be disposed invarious angular relations thereto after the shield is in shieldingposition, and a foldable frame detachably c011- nected to said shieldand to the ground to solely support the shield in adjusted position.

7. A fire shield comprising a strip of fireproof material,pivotally-connected cross bars, attaching hooks carried by the strip toremovably engage one end of each cross bar, a brace bar movablyconnected with each cross bar and hooks carried by each end of theshield for detachably engaging the brace bars.

8. A collapsible fire shield comprising a central Wall, side Wallsformed integral therewith and disposed at an angle thereto, sightopenings formed in the central wall, nozzle openings disposed beneaththe sight openings, and means to maintain the shield in pendentposition.

9. A fire shield comprising a single strip of flexible fireproofmaterial, sight openings formed in said material and closed bytransparent refractory material, nozzle openings arranged below thesight openings, pendent fire-proof curtains movable in front of thenozzle openings, and means, detach--,

ably connected to the strip for supporting the latter in pendentposition.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. DENNIS.

WVitnesses JOHN S. DENNIS, AL. J. FINK.

